Voigtlander HELIAR Classic 50mm F2
Review and Photo example of the Heliar Classic 50mm F2 <limited>
Table of contents
Gallery
- The sample photo were taken with the LEICA M8.
- The sample photo were taken with the LEICA M9.
Review
Lens configuration diagram taken from Cosina distributed PDF
1．Usage
The Heliar Classic 50mm F2 has a sticky helicoid that is unique to manual focus (MF) lenses, has a convenient rotational torque for use with rangefinder cameras, and the aperture stops with a click-stop, so it was very satisfying as a tool for taking photos.
However, the results were not particularly impressive, and it was buried among the many 50mm lenses I had. When I bought this, it was on sale for about 1/3 of the price it is now in 2024, so I liked the beautiful barrel design and purchased both the black and silver lenses, but I sold them in exchange for some other lens.
2．Lens overview
The Heliar Classic 50mm F2 is a standard lens designed by Cosina to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Voigtlander’s Bessa, and was sold as a set with the BESSA-R2M and BESSA-R3M.
The lens is a Heliar type with 5 elements in 3 groups, and is characterized by its F-number of 2.0 at maximum aperture. The lens barrel is retractable and comes with a dedicated bayonet-type hood.
The minimum shooting distance is 1m, so the lens alone does not have sufficient close-up performance.
3．Heliar series
Cosina Voigtlander’s Heliar series has three types of maximum aperture F-numbers: 1.5, 2, and 3.5. The characteristics are briefly described below.
The F1.5 model is sold as a regular lens, and is the largest aperture lens in the Heliar series, but the lens configuration is 3 groups and 6 elements, so it is difficult to call it a Heliar.
There are two types of F2 lenses, the first lens was sold as a set with BESSA-R2M and BESSA-R3M, and the lens barrel is a retractable type. The second generation lens, which was later sold as a single lens in a limited run of 600 units, has a fixed barrel.
There are three types of F3.5 lenses, the first lens was sold as a set with BESSA-T, and the lens barrel is a retractable type. The second generation lens, which was sold as a single lens in a limited run of 600 units, has a barrel that is almost the same as the first lens and follows the retractable type. The third generation is sold as a regular lens, and the lens barrel is fixed.
Retractable field lenses do not become that small when retracted, and I have never retracted them because I am afraid of collisions with obstacles in front of the sensor in modern cameras. Also, many of Cosina’s limited edition products are later redesigned and re-produced, or become regular lenses, so there is no need to rush to buy one.
Both the first and second generation Heliar 50mm F2 introduced here are sometimes traded at premium prices on the used market, but since the image quality is not particularly distinctive, it is not a lens that you should force yourself to buy.
Specification
| Items | Heliar 50mm F2 | Heliar 50mm F3.5 | Heliar 50mm F1.5 |
| Focal length(mm) | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Max aperture | 2 | 3.5 | 1.5 |
| Min aperture | 16 | 22 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| Lens Construction | 5elements in 3groups | ← | 6elements in 3groups |
| Min distance(m) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 |
| Lens length(mm) | 38.5(When Using) | 42.2 | 41.9 |
| Max diameter(mm) | 50.8 | 47 | 56.8 |
| Filter Size(mm) | 39 | 28 | 49 |
| Weight(g) | 260 | 150 | 255 |
| Release date | 2007.6 or 7(1st) 2009.11(2md) | 2001.11(1st) 2009.11.1(2nd) 2016.11.25(3rd) | 2021.9 |
| Price(Yen/No-tax) | 144,900-(with body) 73,000(2nd) | 1st price is unknown 68,000-(2nd) 65,000-(3rd) | 90,000- |
| その他 | The second generation is a fixed optical tube | The third generation has a fixed lens barrel with a new barrel design |
Reference links
- COSINA Lens Products PDF・HELIAR CLASSIC 50mm F2
Update history
- 2024.8.30
- 2024.05.14:Added an example of LEICA M9.
- 2024.03.04
- 2023.09.28
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